}}{{tnr}}'''Steve Bullock''' (born 1966 in Missoula, [[Montana]]) is the current [[Democratic]] [[Montana Attorney General|Attorney General of Montana]] and Governor-elect.

}}{{tnr}}'''Steve Bullock''' (born 1966 in Missoula, [[Montana]]) is the current [[Democratic]] [[Montana Attorney General|Attorney General of Montana]] and Governor-elect.

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Bullock ran for governor rather than seek re-election as attorney general in 2012. He will be succeeded by [[Tim Fox]] (R), who won election on [[Montana state executive official elections, 2012|November 6, 2012]].

Bullock ran for governor rather than seek re-election as attorney general in 2012. He will be succeeded by Tim Fox (R), who won election on November 6, 2012.

Biography

Bullock began his career within the legal profession in 1996 serving as Chief Legal Counsel to the Montana Secretary of State advising the office in all legal matters. A year later, he joined the state's Justice Department, first as an Executive Assistant to the Attorney General then as acting Chief Deputy Attorney General, a role he maintained until 2001. It was also during this time that Bullock worked as Legislative Director, helping to coordinate the legislative efforts of the Attorney General's office.

Bullock returned to the private sector in 2001 as an attorney for the Washington, D.C.-based law firm of Steptoe & Johnson while simultaneously operating as an adjunct professor at George Washington University School of Law. Three years later, he moved back to Montana representing individuals, consumer organizations, labor unions, peace officers, associations of political subdivisions, and private businesses as an attorney.

Bullock and his wife Lisa have three children.

Member, Board of Directors, Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies

Member, Public Policy Council, Montana Non-Profit Association

Member, Gates of the Mountains Foundation

Member, Lewis and Clark County Historic Preservation Commission

Education

Bachelor's degree, Claremont McKenna College

Juris Doctorate degree, Columbia University School of Law

Political career

Attorney General (2009-Present)

On January 5, 2009, Steve Bullock was sworn into office as the state of Montana's twentieth Attorney General. As the state's chief lawyer and law enforcement officer, he leads the Montana Department of Justice whose divisions include the Forensic Science Laboratory, the Montana Highway Patrol, the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Office of Gambling Control, the Office of Legal Services, and the Division of Criminal Investigation, in addition to the department's information technology staff.

Initiatives that Steve Bullock has proposed as Attorney General include:

Strong enforcement and prosecution under Montana's sexual predator laws and ensuring that offenders comply with the legal requirements of Montana's Sexual or Violent Offender Registry.

Creating a position for a special prosecutor within the Attorney General's office to focus exclusively on crimes against children.

Developing a Children's Justice Center within the Montana Department of Justice which specalizes efforts to enforce laws relating to sexual violence against children, and to improve the services to child victims; an

Providing support and resources to local law enforcement and Montana's county attorneys.

According to the website Daily Kos, this race was one of nine top-ballot 2012 races that contained Libertarian candidates who received more total votes than was the difference between the Democratic winner and the GOP runner-up. In this case, Ron Vandevender took in over 9,000 more votes than the number that separated Bullock and Hill.[2]

Issue positions

Abortion

Bullock set himself apart from his opponent Hill on the issue of abortion, stating, "the difference couldn’t be clearer between us. As governor, I will defend a women’s right to choice. I think these are complicated and difficult decisions, but they shouldn’t be made by the government. They should be made by women and their doctors.”[3]

Economy

Bullock said in order to create a stronger state economy, he would work to help small businesses create jobs and promote rural growth “through responsible development of our vast energy resources and attract new businesses, like high tech companies, to invest here.”[4]

XL Pipeline

Bullock expressed his support for the Keystone XL pipleline, stating, "With tight regulation and appropriate, long-term oversight, the Keystone XL pipeline project has the ability to create thousands of jobs, in Montana, advance domestic security and be a shot in the arm to our economy."[5]

Campaign donors

Ballotpedia collects information on campaign donors for each year in which a candidate or incumbent is running for election. The following table offers a breakdown of Steve Bullock's donors each year.[6] Click [show] for more information.

Steve Bullock's Campaign Contributions

2008Montana Attorney General

Total Raised

$443,723

Total Raised by General Election Opponent

$333,729 (Rep.)

Top 5 contributors

Steve Bullock

$26,836

Montana Democratic Party

$9,188

Jun Y. Lee

$810

George B. Copps

$740

Terry Payne

$620

Individuals

$378,742

Institutions

$9,893

In-state donations

$309,981

Out-of-state donations

$133,099

Personal

Bullock and his wife Lisa have three children - Caroline, Alexandria, and Cameron.[7]